Kalyves is a large village located in Crete, Greece. The area is a popular tourist resort and destination as it has retained its Cretan character and charm.
The fishing village is popular with tourists and its easy to see why as it has small town charm, beautiful sandy beaches and shallow waters where you can discover the marine life. The main beach has been awarded with a blue flag and lifeguard so you can feel safe and secure while you relax on your holiday.
Here are my top 12 things to do in Kalyves and nearby.
1. Exploring The River At Kalyves Beach Hotel
This was such a simple one but really enjoyable. We loved going to the bridge over the river behind the Kalyves Beach hotel and looking at the fish and eels. It’s lit up at night and is so pretty.
Also looking for bits of ceramic in the water. (Our stay was complimentary in exchange for this coverage.)
2. Bus To Chania
Getting the bus to Chania old town. There are several bus stops in the town of Kalyves but we walked to the one in the square, turn right out of the hotel and the stop is on your right opposite the church, only a few minutes walk from the hotel.
The bus is €2.50 per person (including the children, 6 & 7 at the time) and takes you to the busy bus station in town. From there you can find a number of things to do and a new area to discover for the day.
3. Visit The Chania Museum
We spent a pleasant hour exploring the Archaeological Museum of Chania after a little stroll around the port. It has lots of artefacts and some very interesting displays and a lovely garden.
The museum is the Archaeological Museum Of Chania and is fascinating to see the sculptures, mosaics and vases. The museum is a great learning opportunity and is intriguing to see the details in the sculptures and pieces on show. This has to be one of the best things to do in Kalyves as it holds so much history and amazing work.
4. Visit The jewellery shop
Just up the beach from the Kalyves Beach hotel is a really lovely jewellery shop. From the rear of the hotel, follow the road next to the beach and then cross the large carpark and go up a couple of steps to find a jewellery shop packed with gorgeous bracelets and necklaces. Made my children very happy!
This is the perfect place to buy a little token of your holiday or even pick up souvenirs for friends back at school.
5. Take A Boat Trip
This was on our agenda for our stay but unfortunately a storm meant that it had to be cancelled. You could island hop and go snorkelling from the boat. There was also an option to go scuba diving which we would have loved but both needed a refresher course to be able to take part.
A boat tip is the perfect way to explore more of the surrounding areas and see some fish. There is also great views back over the island to see from a distance, especially on really clear sunny days.
6. Take a Trip To The Late Minoan Tholos Tomb
The Late Minoan Tholos Tomb is a late Minoan burial ground located in the small, quiet grove of wild oak trees on a gentle slope.
Inside the underground tomb, tourists can see the linear developments of the rituals at burial ceremonies from the Dorian age to the Mycenaean age – around 3000 BC. The tomb is open to the public and has a vicious colony of fleas that can sting and leave scars on you, so it would be best if you wear a pair of trousers when visiting the tomb.
7. Taste Wine At The Winery Darurakis
This 5-star Winery has been in existence since 1988 and is located at Alikambos, Chania. You have to take a nice road trip along the Chania-Rethymno highway on the north coast of Crete to get there.
Tourists are welcome to visit the stone winery at any time of the year, and they can tour the facility and taste the wine produced there. While at the facility, you can access a museum and art gallery if you are an art lover to admire various artists’ creativity. Tourists have to book their tours and wine tastings in advance.
Note that wine tasting is not available to people under 18 because it is prohibited by law.
8. Hire A Boat And Go For A Cruise
Tourists can rent a boat for a whole day and explore the enormous bays and coves at Corfu Island’s northeast coast. If you are in a group, you can all take as much time to move across the water as you need to find a quiet spot where you guys can swim.
On the seaside, there are gift shops, small markets and tavernas where you can shop. When you go on a boat cruise in this area, you tend to feel more relaxed, and the fantastic weather encourages tourists to come and revisit the area.
9. Take Cooking Lessons in Vamos
If you want to try something new and exciting, you can learn a thing or two about preparing Cretan cuisine. There are traditional cooking lessons tourists can join to know how to prepare and enjoy tasty dishes made from local recipes under professional cooks’ guidance.
All the delicacies are made from original Cretan products. Some of these products are vegetables, meat, wine, olive oil, cheese etc. and are all produced locally and used fresh. This is a great idea and probably one of the best things to do in Kalyves, especially if you are going as a couple or looking to try something new.
10. The Souda Bay War Cemetery
This cemetery is situated about 5km east of Chania and houses about 1,500 late Commonwealth servicemen that lost their lives when fighting the Battle for Crete in 1941.
Of the 1,500 servicemen laid there, 776 people are unidentified but have special memorials that commemorate some causalities that people believe to be buried among them. Furthermore, the war cemetery has about 19 World War 1 late servicemen and 37 bodies from non-war related deaths.
11. Visit The Botanical Park at Omolos
If you are in Chania, you can pay a visit to the Botanical Park at Omolos and learn more about nature. The Crete Botanical Park is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in town, and it gives a breathtaking view of the Omolus Plateau while taking a hike creating an experience worth your time.
There are restaurants at the park that have delicious Cretan delicacies on offer. They also make fruit salads with the fresh fruits grown at the Botanical Park.
12. Take A Look At The Ancient Aptera
This is a destination for people that want to discover some of the ancient histories of Creta. They can take a walk while examining the archaeological ruins of Ancient Aptera. Aptera is still an underrated archaeological site because it is dwarfed by other sites’ fame at Malia or Knossos.
Since it does not get much attention, tourists who choose to visit can examine it in peace. The site is located over 200 metres on a hill overlooking Souda Bay and providing a spectacular panoramic view of Chania.
We stayed at the Kalyves Beach Hotel. Read my review of the hotel here.
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